It's a Bird. It's a Bun. It's a Beehive!

When contemplating my overall appearance for our upcoming wedding festivities, I read all sorts of articles and blog posts with tips, tricks, and advice for beautifying the bride. I learned I need to schedule a facial at least two weeks before the little Big Day. I learned I must first figure out what a facial is. I should exercise regularly, drink water, and keep dead ends trimmed from my soon-to-wed locks. Glancing in the mirror,  I wondered if shaving my head might be less tedious. Alas, my rotten-egg-shaped head is better covered in split ends than bare. The most widely accepted advice listed in most if not everything I read was something like “A bride should look like herself in wedding photos. Make sure hair and makeup is selected with your day-to-day look in mind”. To which my response is :

BAM!

Wish you weren’t a liar.

   While I appreciate the sentiment (You are beautiful! You are special!) I know enough about my day-to-day look to know that in most modern and third-world civilizations it’s not considered much of a look at all. I often accidentally lather my scalp with acne wash and decide a shampoo re-do is far too much effort. It took a really painful injury to the nostril for me to figure out the proper usage of an eyelash curler. Most days I give myself major kudos for remembering to brush my teeth and floss, and sometimes that boxed hair color that comes with an easy-to-use applicator is only easily applied to my face. Oh, it burns like fury!

   No. My everyday style would not cut it on what, by no means, will be a typical day. Day-to-day I don’t squeeze myself into a dress that costs more than month’s worth of groceries. My ordinary morning doesn’t consist of a catered meal. Most afternoons I don’t profess my eternal love to the man over a wireless mic…on a rooftop…high above a big city…in front of 80 or so dressed up onlookers. And you better believe the most average evening consists of me + sweatpants+ 8 o’clock bedtime, not sipping cocktails and trying to keep my single friends from hitting on the pastor. For such an exceptionally unique day I’d surely need an exceptionally unique look.

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    In searching for a bridal hair &  makeup stylist I kept a few important criteria in mind:

- Can Brush Hair

- Can Explain To Me What A Facial Is

- Will Not Give Me A “Princess”, “Dainty”,  “Flowery” or Otherwise Stereotypical Bridal ‘do.

-Will Not Be Insulted By My Budget

-Thinks The Idea of A Retro, Southern, Blog-Reader-Planned Wedding Is Cool (Or Can At Least Hide Horror Well)

- Watches YouTube Videos Excessively

So that last one seems random, but I’d like to have something to talk to said stylist about as she’s plucking and glossing away.

       As luck would have it I found Rachel Monahan, and as you’ll soon see, she makes dreams come true. The Austin, Texas native recently moved her pretty business to Nashville, and from one look at Lovely Day’s page, I was sold. With a tag-line of ” Lovely Day Hair & Makeup: On-Site. Off The Hook.” I felt sure she had just the sense of humor she would need to be a part of this Very Bloggy Wedding. To my delight, Lovely Day is flexible and professional. All of this to say that Rachel never laughed at my budget and was enthusiastic to put her skills to work (and I mean WORK) to take me from Tori, Plain & Tall to Tori, Pretty &  Still Really Tall.

  From hair and makeup for brides and bridal parties to avant-garde editorials and simple modern styles, Rachel is David Copperfield with a mascara wand. You know, if David Copperfield was less creepy, more girly, and pulled pretty from his magic hat instead of bunnies. Reviews and photos of her work put hope in my little, homely heart. I spent a solid month drooling over them: retro, chic, up, down, natural, glamorous, tousled or sleek. Lovely Day Hair & Makeup creates all kinds of lovely.

   I visited Rachel’s at-home studio this week so she could finally shed a little lovely on me. Her house is the old-walls-covered-in-hip-art kind of amazing. Her husband was able to make eye contact with me…even when I showed up to his house with gnarly eyebrows and mysterious chin pimples. Her cocker spaniel is precious, and- holy perfection!- Rachel is as cool as a quarterback, nice as the lunch lady, and funnier than one person has a right to be. I was so distracted by our conversation (from YouTube videos to The Peter Gallagher) that I didn’t notice the transformation occurring around my face region. In what seemed like a few seconds Rachel brought my sexy back. Rephrase: I had a first-time sexy experience.

    I stared at myself, mostly wanting every person who’s ever known me to incidentally show up on Rachel’s doorstep. She works magic, y’all. David Copperfield magic. Being the expert that she is, Rachel took my vague totally clueless suggestions (No Princess. No Glamour Shots)  and gave me two distinct looks, both of which could perfectly fit our retro-southern wedding day. Having already chosen the dress, I knew the overall vibe I wanted but lacked any kind of fashionable vocabulary to explain said vibe. I don’t think the standard, pretty princess look suits me because, let’s be real here, I win burping contests, not beauty pageants. I want to fit in with the funky, “raided grandma’s attic & turned her junk into hip party decorations” atmosphere of this quirky little shindig. More than anything, I’d like a little oomph added to my bare-faced and wet-pony-tailed signature style. Somehow, the lady behind Lovely Day Hair & Makeup understood these wacky preferences and created not one but two awesome options.

Take a look at Rachel’s magic tricks below & cast your vote!

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MAKEUP LOOK#1- SMOKEY EYE ALLOWED

Smokey, darker tones highlight the eyes. A nude, glossy lip compliments the bold eye. This one’s a modern, funky look.

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MAKEUP LOOK #2: RED LIP DISTRICT

Red lips are the focal point, with a sleek cat eye to compliment the classic look.

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HAIR OPTION #1 : TIE-THE-KNOTTED BUN

This look is a modern take on the standard pretty bridal bun. The back is a little romantic, but blunt bangs and a few messy strands on the side give this ‘do some edge.

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HAIR OPTION #2: BLOGGY WEDDING BEEHIVE

 

This ain’t your mama’s beehive. To bring this retro look up-to-date, Rachel opted not to keep the edges, back, and sides of the hair hive slick. The classic style is given a little edge with asymmetrical wispy pieces and cool, side swept bangs.

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Oh, the pretty I’ve seen! Now you decide the winning, not-so-everyday look below. Hair and Makeup selections can be mismatched or voted for together (as pictured)!  A big thank you to the seriously skilled Rachel Monahan from Lovely Day Hair & Makeup for bringing beauty expertise to the Bloggy Wedding!

*the ramblings likes it. You should, too.

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